Vehicle brake



Oct. 8,- 1935. J SNEED 2,016,875

' VEHICLE BRAKE Filed Nov. 18, 1927 3 sheets-sheet 1 Oct. 8, 1935. J.sNEED 2,016,875

VEHICLE BRAKE Filed Nov. 18, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 gnou/woz ttoznmg SPatented Oct. 8, 1935 UNITE STATES VEHICLE BRAKE John Sneed, Detroit,Mich., assignor to The Midland Steel Products Company, Cleveland, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application November 18, 1927, Serial No. 234,081

21 Claims.

This invention relates to vehicle brakes and more particularly to brakesadapted for use on two or four wheels of automobiles.

It has long been the practice in operating vehicle brakes to utilize acam member or toggle levers arranged to engage the brake shoes and applythe brakes Whenever the cam or toggle levers are properly moved. Theprimary object' of my invention is the elimination of such cams ortoggle levers contacting the brake shoe, whereby a simpler and morepositive brake construction is provided with fewer moving parts.

A further object of my invention is the arrangement of a split annularbrake shoe with its extremities normally engaging an anchor pin andhaving one extremity connected with a brake actuating cable and itsopposite extremity connected with the flexible conduit housing a portionof such cable.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a housing ior abrake shoe including a rotatable brake drum and a fixed apron arrangedto substantially close the open side of the drum, the apron beingprovided with an aperture for the passage therethrough of a flexibleconduit and a brake actuating cable connected to. a brake shoeoperatively arranged within the brake drum.

Other objects and advantages will beapparent from the followingdescription, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawingsillustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein similarreference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view through a vehicle brakeconstructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail vertical section taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged detail sections taken substantially on thelines 4--4 and 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figures 6 and 7 are detail perspective views, with parts broken away,showing the construction of the opposite extremity of the brake shoe,and

Figure Sis a detail perspective View showing the formation of the tip ofthe brake shoe extremity to which the flexible cable is adapted to beattached.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a brake drumadapted to be secured to a wheel of an automobile or other vehicle inthe usual or any desired manner so as to rotate (Cl. 18S-78) with thewheel, and the numeral 6 designates an apron non-rotatably held upon aportion of the vehicle and arranged to substantially close the open sideof the brake drum 5. Inasmuch as these parts may be of the usual or ofany desired 5 construction, and mounted in various ways upon thevehicle, no attempt has been made herein to illustrate a completelyoperative brake actuating mechanism, only so much of the vehicle partsbeing shown as is necessary to delineate the 10 action of the brakemechanism forming the claimed disclosure hereof. Also While theillustrated embodiment portrays a brake drum adapted for use with anoutwardly expanding brake shoe l, it will be understood that myinvention is also applicable to other types of brake shoes suitablyarranged to co-act with a brake drum.

The brake shoe 1- is herein shown as comprising a one piece dividedannulus having a substantially exible portion and the remaining portionsuitably stifened so as to render it substantially rigid.v The relativeextents of the flexible and rigid portions may be varied as desired. Thepurpose oi the flexible portion is to enable the gradual application ofthe brake shoe to the brake drum with increasing force, the movement ofthe brake actuating mechanism first forcing the adjacent extremity ofthe iiexible portion of the brake shoe against the brake drum, afterwhich the turning moment of the brake drum is utilized tomultiplyv thegripping action of the flexible portion of: the brake: shoe and transmitincreased power to the extremity of the rigid portion of the brake shoeopposite to the more iiexible end engaged. by the brake actuatingmechanism. The result. is that when the brakes. are rst set only a..relatively smalll portion of the brake shoe surface isl thrown intocontact with the brake drum, and such braking surface is graduallyincreased by the rotation ci the brake drum until the entire 4,0 rigidportion of the` brake shoe is moved as a unit into engagement. with thebrake shoe. The specific construction of this brake shoe is disclosedand claimed in my companion application, Serial No. 48,41% filed August26, 1925, and is claimed herein in conjunction with the brake actuatingmechanism hereinafter described.

The brake shoe 1 is herein shown as of the full floating type., with itsopposite extremities normally' contacting an anchor pin 8- xed upon the50 apron 6 substantially as shown in Figures l and 2.

A coil springy 9l is arranged between the ,opposite extremities of theybrake shoe to normally urge the shoe extremities toward each other andinto rm engagement with the anchor pin 8, while a second coil spring I0is arranged between the rigid portion 'Ia of the brake shoe and theapron 6, to provide an additional resistance to movement of the rigidextremity of the brake shoe away from the anchor pin. The extremity ofthe rigid portion 'Ia of the brake shoe is preferably constructedsubstantially as shown in Figure 7, with a pair of substantiallysemi-circular seats lb formed in its flanges to engage the anchor pin 8at widely separated portions, and with a pair of arms 'IC extending fromthe flanges of the brake shoe toward each other and curved at theirtips, substantially as shown in Figure 7, to provide a seat for theoutermost section II o-f a flexible conduit I2, substantially as shownin Figures 1 and 2. The flexible conduit I2 is preferably formed of aplurality of intertting sections II surrounded by a coil spring I3substantially as disclosed in my companion application, Serial No.51,094, filed August 19, 1925; and its inner extremity is suitablysecured upon an apertured bracket carried by the vehicle chassis. Theflexible conduit I2 provides a guide for the longitudinal movement ofthe actuating cable I4, which is suitably connected at its innerextremity with the usual or any desired brake actuating lever mechanismmounted upon the vehicle chassis, and at its outer extremity with theextremity of the flexible portion of the brake shoe 1. To firmly securethe outermost section II of the flexible conduit upon the extremity ofthe rigid portion 'Ia of the brake shoe, the outermost of theinterfltting sections II is arranged between the spaced tips 1c of thebrake shoe, which are clamped thereabout by means of a yoke I5, the freeextremities of which may be moved toward or away from each other bymeans of the bolt I6 and nut II (note Figure 3) The flexible portion ofthe brake shoe 'I carries at its extremity a shoe I8, preferably formedsubstantially as shown in Figure 6, with a pair of spaced iiangesprovided with substantially semi-circular seats I8a for engagement withthe anchor pin 8 between the arms 'Ic of the rigid extremity of thebrake shoe. The tips of the iianges of the shoe I8 are broughtcomparatively close to each other and shaped to provide a ready securingmeans for the outer extremity of the cable I4. As herein shown the outerextremity of the cable I4 is wedged within the conical central apertureI9a of a cap I9, the inner extremity of which cap is adapted to Contactwith the parallel faces I8b of the flanges of the shoe I8 (note Figures2 and 6) and there held against upward vertical movement by theprojections I8 on said flanges, and against downward vertical movementby the web portion I8d between the flanges. By virtue of thisconstruction the flexible extremity of the brake shoe is rmly engaged bythe cap I9 fixed upon the outermost extremity of the cable I4, which inturn is held against accidental movement relatively to the brake shoe.The web I8d is preferably bent downwardly substantially as shown inFigure 8 and provided with an aperture I8e to receive one extremity ofthe coil spring 9, while the rigid portion 'Iab of the brake shoe mayalso be provided with an apertured tab Id to receive the oppositeextremity of the spring 9.

The operation of my improved brake shoe and actuating mechanism isbelieved to be apparent. Whenever the brake pedal or lever (not shown)is actuated, a pull is exerted upon the cable I4 of each brake so as tomove the flexible extremity of the brake shoe 1 away from the anchor pin8 and into engagement with the rotating brake drum 5.

The rotation of the brake drum then tends to move the brake shoe with itin its rotation, but the rotation of the brake shoe is limited by theengagement of the rigid extremity of the brake shoe with the anchor pin,and so the rotation of the brake drum serves to move the flexibleportion of the brake shoe further away from the rigid extremity thereofand in so doing increases the frictional resistance olfered by the brakeshoe. The continued rotation of the brake drum serves to bring theentire flexible portion of the brake shoe into engagement with the brakedrum and then the movement is transmitted to the extremity of the rigidportion of the brake drum opposite that engaging'the anchor pin,whereupon the entire rigid portion of the brake shoe is moved as a unitinto engagement with the brake drum. It will be apparent that agradually increasing braking effect is secured by this construction thatwill rst slow up and then stop the rotation of the brake drum and thewheel attached thereto. When the brake pedal or lever is released thecoil springs 9 and I9 serve to draw the brake shoe away from the brakedrum and return it to its normal position. During the movements of thebrake shoe the exible conduit i2 remains fixed to the rigid extremity ofthe brake shoe and moves therewith during the slight tilting movement ofthe rigid portion of the brake shoe upon the anchor pin 8. The aperture9a in the apron E permits of this movement of the ilexible conduit, andalso permits the bending of the flexible conduit and cable during the upand down movements of the wheel relatively to the chassis, or theturning of front wheels of the vehicle during steering.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the brake shoe 'I isshown as a oating shoe with only its ends engaging the anchor pin 8.With this construction the spring it) would tend to swing the lowerportion of the brake shoe 'l on the anchor pin as a pivot until aportion of the I brake shoe engaged the brake drum, and so would jeffect a drag upon the brake drum unless means were provided to limitsuch swinging movement of and center the brake shoe. As best shown inFigures 1 and 5 I have provided a stop member 29 in position to limitthe swinging movement of the lower portion of the brake shoe under theforce exerted by the spring Ii). The member 29 is mounted upon the bolt2| locked upon the apron 6 by means of the nut 22 and lock washer 23,with its free extremity spaced from the adjacent portion of the brakedrum 5 a suflicient distance to permit the brake shoe to engagethereagainst before the diametrically opposed portion of the brake shoecontacts with the opposed portion of the brake drum. In other words, themember 20 holds the brake shoe in substantially centered position,stopping its swinging tendency under the influence of the spring illbefore the brake shoe can contact the brake drum and drag thereagainst.At the same time the member 29, in conjunction with the spring I9,provides a simple means for maintaining the desired clearance betweenthe lower portion of the brake shoe and the brake drum. By swinging thestop member 29 on the bolt 2l the free extremity of the member mayreadily be positioned so as to stop the swinging tendency of the lowerportion of the brake shoe at any desired position and so vary theclearance between the brake shoe and brake drum. It will further benoted, (Figure 5) that the member 20 also engages one flange of therigid extremity 'Ia of the brake shoe, and forms :acreage Vammlns andarrangedv within :the brake .drum withiits extremities normally.eng-aging the anchor .i-pin, ithe cable .and :conduit [passing .throughthe aperturei'n the apron and being respectively lcon- -nested toextremities yof the .brake -shoe, 5

.la stop .limiting .lateral .movement :of the brake :shoe away from the.apron edile to vibration .of .the ivehicite when driven .over roughvroads or Jthe like While it will be apparent that vthe illustratedembodiment 5of my invention herein disclosed is `lwell :calculated toadequately fulfill the objects and advantages primarily stated, it visto be understood that the invention is lsusceptible to variation,.modification and ,change within the spirit and .scope of the.fsubjoined claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

il.. `rIlhe com'b'inalcn ibrake actuating means .including :a cable, vofa roltatadcle brake and .a :brake :shoe member vmounted within .thebrake drum and .having overlapping extremizties, one vextremity of .theAshoe being `connected :to the :cable and movable outwardly under theliirnpulse thereof to .cause `contact between a portion of :said shoeandthe brake drinn, the-remainder of the effective .portion of the brakeshoe being movable into contact nwith said drum under 'the influence offrictionalcontact between said first mentioned 'portion .and .the drum.

i2.. AThe @combination with .brake actuating mean-s including .a cable,zof :a rotatable lbrake .drum and .a :brake member formed as a .dividedannulus and .mounted adjacent the drum, one extremity .of .the brakemember overlapping the 'opposite extremity thereof and being directly.connected ,tothe cable, ,said extremity being movable vthereby intocontact 4with .the brake drum, another portion of the Vbrake memberbeing arranged to exert sumciently great yieldable resist- .ance to:movement into conta-ct with the drum to .prevent .such contact beingcaused by such cable actuation.

3. combination with brake actuating vmeans `including .a cable, of arotatable brake drum having an open iside, an apertured apron arranged'to substantially cover the .open :side of the drum, and a brake shoeformed as a divided annulus having overlapping extremities and larranged within the brake 1drum,zthe cable passing through the aperture inthe apron and being directly connected with one extremity of the brakeshoe., which extremity may thereby be moved into contact with the drum,another portion of the shoe being arranged to offer suf-- ciently greatyieldable resistance to its movement into contact with the drum toprevent such contact being caused by actuation of the cable, contactthereof with the drum being causable by friction between the drum andthat portion of the shoe forced into contact therewith by the cable.

4. The combination with brake actuating means including a cable and aflexible conduit housing a portion of the cable, of a rotatable brakedrum having an open side, an apertured apron arranged to substantiallycover the open side of the drum, an anchor pin carried by the apron, anda brake member arranged within the brake drum with adjacent extremitieson opposite sides of and normally engaging the anchor pin, the cable andconduit passing through the aperture in said apron and beingrespectively connected to said extremities of the brake member.

5. The combination with brake actuating means including a cable and aflexible conduit housing a portion of the cable, of a rotatable brakedrum having an open side, an apertured apron arranged to substantiallycover the open side of the drum, an anchor pin carried by the apron, anda brake shoe formed as a divided whereby whenever a ,pull is exertedupon .the cable fone extremity of the brake shoe will .be moved .into:.contactwith the vbrake drum.

6. The combination with brake .actuating `means including .fa fcable andra flexible conduit housing a portion of `the cable., of .a rotatablerbrake drumhaving `an open side, :an .apertured vapron arranged tzosubstantially cover 'the open Aside of the drum, an anchor pin lcarried:by .the

apron, :a brake .shoe formed as a .divided 1:5 :annulus .and .arrangedthe brake drum .with its extremities .normally engaging :the anchor pin,the cable and conduit vpassing through .the .aperture in the apron zand:being respectively .connected to the extremities of the brake slice, 20whefeby whenever a pull .is exerted upon the cable one lextremity yof`:the brake .shoe will be moved into contact with .the brake drum, andresilient mea-ns for normally .maintaining the extremities of the brakeshoe in engagement with the anchor pin.

7 The combination with brake actuating means including a cable andflexible conduit housing a vportion of the cable, of 4a rotatable brakedrum and a brake band arranged within the brake drum and 30 carryinginwardly extending members adjacent its ends, arranged in `overlappingrelation, the cable being connected to one of said members and theconduit to the other.

8. The combination with brake actuating 35 :means including a cable andilexible conduithousing a `portion of the cable, of a rotatable brakedrum and a brake band arranged within the brake .drum and carryinginwardly extending :members adjacent its ends, arranged in overlappingrelation, the cable extending through the overlapping portions of both.of said members, Iand being connected `to one of them and the conduitbeing connected to the other.

9. A brake having a brake drum anda friction 45 device, an anchor:disposed between adjacent ends of `the friction device, extensions forsaid ends of said friction device extending across .said anchor, @andmeans engagingsaid extensions for moving the-friction device intoengagement with the brake 50 drum.

10. A brake having a brake `,drum and a friction device, an anchordisposed between adjacent ends of the friction device, extensions forsaid ends of said friction device extending across said an- 55 chor, andmeans engaging said extensions for moving either of the ends of thefriction device away from the anchor pin.

l1. In combination with a drum, a brake shoe forming a channel sectionat one end and having 60 radially extending side flanges, an anchor pin,portions of the flanges remote from the base of the channel extendingbeyond the pin, and means engaging the extensions for causing contact ofsaid shoe with said drum.

12. In combination with a drum a brake shoe formed in channel section atone end and having a lining supporting part and radially extending sideflanges, an anchor pin, bearing surfaces cut in the end of said flangesfor engagement with 70 said pin, portions of the flanges remote from thelining supporting part of the channel extending beyond the end of thelining supporting part, and means engaging said extensions for causingcontact of said shoe with said drum.

13. In a brake, a brake drum, a brake shoe disposed within the drum, ananchor pin disposed between adjacent ends of said shoe, the said shoebeing channeled in section at least at one end and having radiallyextending side flanges engaging said anchor and extending inwardly ofand beyond said anchor, the other end of said shoe also extendinginwardly of and beyond said anchor and overlapping the extension of thechannel end of the shoe, and means for forcing said shoe into engagementwith said drum.

14. A brake comprising a brake drum, a friction means disposed withinthe drum, an anchor disposed between adjacent ends of said frictionmeans, an extension from one of said ends overlapping the anchor and theother of said ends, and a retractor spring connecting said overlappingextension to the body of said friction means for drawing said ends intoengagement with the anchor.

15. The combination with a brake drum having an open side and a backingplate arranged to substantially close the open side of the brake drum,of an anchor member carried by the backing plate, a brake shoe arrangedwithin the drum and having adjacent ends engaging the anchor member,extensions carried by the said ends of the brake shoe and overlappingthe anchor member, means secured to the backing plate and brake shoe fornormally holding one end of the brake shoe against the anchor member,and means engaging said extensions for forcing one end of the brake shoeaway from the anchor member.

16. The combination with a brake drum having an open side and a backingplate arranged to substantially close the open side of the brake drum,of an anchor member carried by the backing plate, a brake shoe arrangedwithin the drum and having adjacent ends engaging the anchor member,extensions carried by the said ends of the brake shoe and overlappingthe anchor member, means secured to one of said extensions and the brakeshoe for normally holding the ends of the brake shoe against the anchormember, and means engaging said extensions for forcing one end of thebrake shoe away from the anchor member.

17, A brake shoe channeled in section at one end and having inwardlyextending radial side flanges, said side ilanges decreasing in depthaway from the ends of said shoe toward the body of said shoe, and saidside flanges also extending beyond the end of said shoe.

18. A brake comprising in combination, a drum, an anchor, friction meansengageable with the drum and including relatively rigid and relativelyexible portions, the rigid portion of said friction means engaging theanchor at one end, an adjustable stop engaging the rigid portion at apoint remote from the anchor, a spring connected to said rigid portionand urging said means against the stop, and means for moving saidrelatively flexible portion into engagement with the drum While therelatively rigid portion is held by said 4 spring against the stop.

19. A brake comprising in combination, a drum, an anchor, friction meansengageable with the drum and comprising a divided annulus havingrelatively rigid and relatively flexible portions, the rigid portion ofsaid friction means engaging the anchor at one end, an adjustable stopengaging the rigid portion at a point remote from the anchor, a springconnected to said rigid portion and urging said means against the stop,and means for moving said relatively iiexible portion into engagementwith the drum while the relatively rigid portion is held by said springagainst the stop.

20. The combination With brake actuation means including a cable, of arotable brake drum having an open side, an apertured apron arranged tosubstantially cover the open side of the drum, and a brake shoe arrangedwithin the brake drum and movable outwardly into contact therewith bythe cable, the cable passing through the aperture in the apron and beingdirectly connected to one extremity of the brake shoe, the brake shoehaving a ilexible portion between its cable-connected end and theremainder of the shoe, and yieldable means for preventing outwardmovement of the portion of the shoe farther from its cable-connectedend, whereby only said cable-connected end of the shoe may be movedinto' engagement with the drum by means of said cable.

21. In a vehicle brake, a brake drum, a brake 40 band arranged withinthe drum and formed as a divided annulus having overlapping endportions, and means secured to said end portion for moving one of saidoverlapping end portions toward the other to engage a portion of thebrake band with the brake drum, said other end portion of the brake bandremaining substantially xed during such induced movement of the one endportion.

' J OHN SNEED.

